KPAI Defends Anies, Asks Jakarta To Allow 100 Percent Online Schools

Anies Baswedan Photo via Twitter

JAKARTA - Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) commissioner for education, Retno Listyarti, said she supports DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan's desire for face-to-face learning (PTM) to be completely stopped and all students study online.

"I support the statement by Mr. Anies Baswedan, the Governor of DKI Jakarta, who asked for permission to stop the face-to-face school until March 2022. This means that it will be stopped for a month," said Retno in her statement, Sunday, February 6.

Anies' wish had previously been conveyed to the central government. However, the central government did not fully accept the proposal. Regions are only allowed to change 100 percent of PTM to 50 percent of student capacity.

According to Retno, currently the danger of transmission of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is getting more real. Along with the spread of the Omicron variant, the spike in COVID-19 in Indonesia has reached tens of thousands of daily cases in just two months.

Not to mention, there are 190 schools in Jakarta that have recorded cases of COVID-19 when the 100 percent PTM was held. "It indicates that PTM is risky. Maybe the transmission doesn't come from school, but children outside school then bring it into school and infect other children," said Retno.

Therefore, Retno asked the central government to allow Jakarta to close schools for one month and implement distance learning (PJJ).

"Discretion for regional heads should also be carried out to declare the closure of schools that are face-to-face, especially in Jakarta. Of course this only applies to DKI Jakarta, where the number of cases is very high every day," said Retno.

Since Friday, February 4, 2022, Jakarta has again held limited face-to-face learning (PTM) with a capacity of 50 percent of students. This 50 percent PTM has been applied for one semester from July to December 2021.

The implementation of this learning system follows the central government's decision to allow PPKM Level 2 regions to change 100 percent of PTM to 50 percent.

This policy actually does not fully fulfill the wishes of the Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan. Anies proposed to the central government to stop PTM 100 percent and all students carry out PJJ.

Thus, the method of implementing learning is through blended learning, namely learning in class and learning online. In a week, PTM is held on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Meanwhile, on Tuesday and Thursday, disinfectant was sprayed throughout the school environment.